Flight DN 605

i had tickets for the evening flight to mumbai but hey it felt as if i was already in air! the only difference being it was the breakneck speed at which my rick was zooming past hapless humans, machines and cattle on the clean and spacious roads of jaipur towards the airport!

security check completed entering the tarmac the sight was like wow and i just gaped with boyish wonder-these huge flying machines trotting around! the petite air hostess welcomed us with a smile and after settling down realised that i was leavin the royal rajasthan for good (nostalgic!).

just another passing thought as i gazed outside the window-i would love to paint an airplane someday! and another one-the seat next to me is still vacant! perhaps some PYT is on her way-but alas that was not to be :-(

and soon we were on our way to the stratosphere-soaring spirits and thoughts in consonance with the altitude! pure white clouds like balls of cotton wandered around the plane. another unforgettable sight was the sunset-changing hues of chrome yellow,crimson and orange intermingling as in a water color painting!

time passed quickly between in flight magazines and snacks and soon we neared our destination. as we descended lights of the beautiful city of mumbai emerged from the clouds gleaming with the hopes,dreams and aspirations of the million souls residing in there.

post touchdown and collection of seemingly lost baggage i was out in the new look mumbai domestic terminal lobby! was raining cats and dogs-had hot 'pav bhaji' in the nearby south indian canteen amidst the company of happily chattering air hostesses of various airlines just back from their shift! but in the end(linkin park lyrics) it was nice to be back home!

Gentlemen only ladies forbidden!

I'm in the woods so much I can tell you which plants are edible.- Lee Trevino

1. Well this is certainly the present competence level or rather to be more politically correct my handicap status presently though i did attend a week long camp way back in school learning the basics!

2.Eventually the spirit was rekindled after my golfing enthusiast junior siddhu's arrival in paltan and failed attempts therafter of practicing our drive atop sand dunes during exercise period in churu !
3. Now this is one intriguing mystery which yet escapes scientific reasoning and that is the affinity men in general have towards golf! But hey what with all those dimples you get to see (on the golf balls naturally) and strokeplay!
4. Golf terminology can at times get those unaccustomed souls a bit unnerved! The platter includes bunkers,hazards,condors,albattrosses,foursomes and holes among others!
5. Allow me to conclude by stating that there lies no greater bliss on planet earth than the feeling one gets after hitting a perfect drive! Ladies probably can settle for putting instead!

honey i just entered the dalal street!

yahoo! am already feeling rich-after all i have finally entered the dalal street after toying with the idea for almost 2 years, taking in advice fromfrom among others a naval commomdore, ET editorials and google! hey am contributing to the buoyant indian economy now, "market crashes"-whats that?-keep the faith-theres no looking back now, middle class conservatism-hell TIME magazine just gave us a new name - we are the "millenial"generation!

though have gone in for the chauffeur driven car option- "mutual funds" - hey lets grant it to those fund managers, they sure know their job! and yes its SIP's all the way - ahem fire and forget missiles are what we fauji's always prefer!

gosh have even forgotten the four corporate houses whichhave benefitted (reliance is one for sure) - got the inspiration to punch in this blog entry out of the blue staring at stars on a chilly night in the deserts approximately 3 months after the act and the recent news that even big b is finding time to contribute to his blog!

a need to track the NAV's everyday - please - will be happy if one fine day it would contribute in a dream holiday to australia!

....and these almost made the list

• snorkelling-jolly bouy island-andamans
• coronation scene-jaanta raja-marathi play on shivaji-pune
• jaipur city as viewed from top of nargargh fort-jaipur
• pune city from chandni chowk-pune

ten unforgettable sights

1. evening puja-haridwar : the multitude of devotees,chanting of shlokas,hundreds of diyas set afloat in the river ganges-altogether a fascinating sight!2. marine drive by night-mumbai : a cool sea breeze,the vast roaring sea,zooming traffic,teeming skyrises,bright billboards and neon signs and the occasional pair of lovers all epotomise the city full of life3. mussourie at night as viewed from dehradun : seems that a galaxy has descended upon the hills of doon valley-a symbolic beacon of hope and a bright future during our training!

4. amar jawan jyoti-india gate-new delhi : the eternal flame, a smartly turned out and alert assam regiment soldier on duty,the towering structure,the cold november morning chill and the flags of the three arms of the indian defence forces-a lump in the throat moment and yes am honoured to be part of it!5. golden temple -amritsar : the concept of kar seva,spotlessly clean environs,soothing 'gurbaani' and the brilliance of the metal sparkling in the sun-its another out of the world experience!
6. sarson ke khet (mustard fields) -punjab : small bright chrome yellow flowers backed by a light green background-now thats pure magic created by the greatest ever-the lord himself! why it tastes even better with makki ki roti and dollops of makhan!

7. ladakhi homes : one of the many facets of the unspoilt and untouched beauty of ladakh are their homes! freshly whitewashed walls, coffee brown window sills, jet black roofs,tiny fluttering multi colured buddhist flags in the vicinity and a pure cloudless azure sky behind-wow!

8. kingfisher airlines-airhostesses : after all it was worth the wait (the flight was delayed by 4 hours)-i had just boarded a kingfisher airlines flight! gosh-the air hostesses were incredibelly pretty and smart and courteous......alas its time to depart-wish i had a digital camera or better still any job available on flight? gotta contact mr mallya!
9. reception-a punjabi marriage : blaring punjabi pop music (the singer was gippy grewal-live),alcohol and tandoori chicken in abundance, grand arrangements, well lit surroundings,pretty faces all around and general bonhomie-diametrically opposite to the ultra low key affairs back home in pune! the no more happy person was ofcourse captain jeevan preet singh dhindsa from sangrur!
10. foot bridge-uttarkashi : it was a spellbinding moment-standing on the footbridge at uttarkashi staring down at a vigourous and gushing brown -grey gangotri hurtling down to the plains! it was a heady feeling, concurrently respecting the elements and a lifetime recharge of spirits!

majestic mountains

“Men come and go, mountains remain” – Ruskin bond
The sight is still fresh in my mind. It was one of those training camps we had in the mountains around Dehra Dun. After an arduous climb and reaching one such hill top, our instructors gave us a brief break. It was then that we looked around us as to where on earth had we reached!
It was an awesome, overwhelming and spellbinding moment to say the least. In front of us stood huge masses of sheer rock, looking down quietly at the valley below. The wind was howling, screeching and tearing at our eardrums and sending an occasional, though slight chill down our spines. The sun was bidding farewell and giving the whole scene that hazy, matt print look. It made us feel and remain silent, just absorbing whatever was on offer with all the senses that the creator had gifted us with and yes think too. So impressive, powerful and yet so humble, simple with no trace of brashness or pomp. The later traits being a common factor among hill people too. Most of it was awe and genuine respect for those yonder towering personalities as we continued to stare. It was as if they were reminding us as to how much remains to be done, achieved before even imagining of reaching their stature, inspiring, challenging us in a way.
We were shaken up from our reverie by the sharp whistle for our next task! That night as we sat under the zillion twinkling stars over a cup of cocoa and cigarettes were lit, we could not help again taking in the surroundings! The wind had mellowed down to a cool breeze and the only audible sound was the far away roar of the river below. No one spoke, wonder what was on their minds, the present girls in their lives surely!